Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng addressing Young Entrepreneurs in Juba - CREDIT | Stephen Chot/Eye Radio | December 1, 2021

Vice President Rebecca Nyandeng De Mabior has appealed to communities of the Greater Upper Nile region to hold dialogue on ending conflicts and embracing peace.

Nyandeng made the remarks during an SPLM event to prepare for the endorsement of President Kiir as flagbearer in the 2024 elections.

The vice president said it’s necessary to find solutions to the issues of cattle raiding, child abductions, and tribal conflicts that have destabilized the region.

“You people of Greater Upper-Nile, you lost your leaders like Dr. John Garang, why all these divisions among you,” Nyandeng told attendants in the event held at Freedom Hall in Juba, Sunday.

“You still call yourselves greater, what is so greater about you? The disagreement, cattle raids, child abductions, tribal conflicts. Is it not us doing all these? Because nobody came from outside.”

“Therefore, lets us comeback here and lecture ourselves. We have to reveal all the hidden agendas that day.”

Nyandeng is further warning political leaders seeking positions in the forthcoming December 2024 elections against seeking self-interest, while encouraging them to prioritize the peoples’ interest.

“You should be ashamed of yourself, if you think people should elect you as a leader. People will elect you as who?  if you cannot lead others.”

The vice president condemned tribal conflicts in the three states of Upper Nile, alleging that they have killed more people than those who died in the struggle for South Sudan’s independence.

“As it was said here earlier on that we have lost more people due to tribal conflicts. People who have died because of tribal conflicts after our independence are greater in numbers than during our liberation struggles.”

Unity State Governor Joseph Monytuil, who is also the Chairperson of the endorsement ceremony, says the event will take place in the first week of December in Malakal town.